Skates

When I was younger
A part-time job worker
Department store center
I saw a man enter
He was middle-aged
Deep lines on his face
Tight mouth and eyes glazed
Eyelids just half-raised
And I looked at him, he looked at me
He looked so sad, I had to see
What did he want, what could it be
What had he been through before me
Seeing him in the store I worked for
That year
That year
Ice skates he asked for
In the middle of summer
He wanted a good pair
The price he did not care
I looked for his size
Our best pair he tried
Custom back and sides
Excitement in his eyes
And I looked at him, he looked at me
He looked so sad, I had to see
What did he want, what could it be
What had he been through before me
Seeing him in the store I worked for
That year
That year
I asked are you a pro
He looked sad and said no
These skates are my last hope
Without them I cannot cope
And he said my wife, she drowned this summer
Behind our house, the river took her
I cannot swim, I need to find her
I will wait till it freezes over
And then I will skate as far as it takes
I will skate as far as it takes
To bring her back home
To bring her back home
To bring her back home
Back home